Visual indicator and control for miniature trains



P. ROMAN Sept. 2, 1952 A VISUAL INDICATOR AND CONTROL FOR MINIATURETRAINS Filed June 14-, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 v n m m m PA UL ROMAN P.ROMAN Sept. 2, 1952 VISUAL INDICATOR AND CONTROL FOR MINIATURE TRAINSFiled June 14, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 7 PAUL ROMAN jbao 5 v, EN R O T T A Sept. 2, 1952 P. ROMAN 2,509,489

VISUAL INDICATOR AND CONTROL FOR MINIATURE TRAINS Filed June 14, 1945 4Sheets-Sheet 5 o 90 ea 9| .176 90 3 am as 85 v I03 3 99 k 102 '73 66 657o pf I f L /75 83 97 96 87 (a; g) 1 I04 a IO! 92 INVENTOR.

PAUL ROMAN A TTORNE vs Sept. 2, 1952 P. ROMAN 2,609,489

VISUAL INDICATOR AND CONTROL FOR MINIATURE TRAINS Filed June 14, 1945 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. PA UL ROMAN BY l 'VWM+M Patented Sept. 2, 1952-i OFFICE VISUAL INDICATOR AND CONTROL FOR I MINIATURE TRAINS I i .Pau].Roman, 'I'uckahoe, N. Y., -assignor to,-

" .Ruth M. Roman, Scarsdalc, :N. Y.

Application June 14, 1945, Serial No. 599371 This invention relates :toImprovements in devices for controlling the operation of miniaturevehicles, and has for an object the provision of an illtuninated visualindicator adapted to be set for the proposed itinerary of said vehicle,the provision of switching means for extinguishing the illuminatingmeans and supplying energy to .said vehicle and the provision of meanscontrolled by the vehicle for interrupting the sup- .ply of current,thereto, thereby causing the vehicle to stop at its proposeddestination.

Anotherobject of the invention is the provision in a control system -forelectrically operated vehicles which travel on a track, of an insulatedsection in the track, connections betweena source of current and theremainder of the trach'and switching means controlled by the vehicle asit encounters said insulated section in the track for determiningwhether the vehicle continues to traverse the track or stops on saidinsulated section.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision in devices forcontrolling the operation of miniature vehicles, of a visual indicator,the provision of switching means for supplying energy to saidvehicleduring the time said visual indicator is not illuminated, and forilluminating said visual indicator as the supply of energy to theyehicle is interrupted.

A further object of tht invention is the provision in a controlsystemfor electrically operated vehicles which travel on a track, of switchingmeans, a visual indicator, and a common means to move both said visualindicator and said switching means, said common means being adapted toilluminate said visual indicatorduring the time energy is switched onfrom said track, and adapted to extinguish the illuminationldur- .ingthe time energy is supplied to said track.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon a study of the following specification, and theaccompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawingswhich are given by way of example toillustratethe invention:

Figure l is a perspective view of a cabinet having a panel thereincomprising a map'and an opening or window in the cabinet through whichan operator may see a movable curtain within the device and set the samefor a wanted city;

Figure 2 is a phantom view of the cabinet showing the movable opaquecurtain and howv the names of cities and cut-outs, or transparencies, inthe curtain register with the city when its nameis positioned in theopening or window;

14 Claims. totem-i122) I Figure 3 is a diagrammatic sketch oi' a trackfora top railroad-train which operates inconjunction with the apparatusshown'in Figure's'i and 2;

rotates a commutator device for controlling the operation of atoyvehicle on a track;

Figure '5 is a diagrammatic View similar to that shown in Figure 8, withthe exception that it includes other details enabling the device "to beautomatically controlled instead of manually as isthe case in Figured lFigure. 6 is a "diagrammatic sketch of a further modification'of thevehicle control employing a stepping switch. x a

Referring to Fig. l, a "cabinet I0 :is provided with a slanting frontwall i I which has an opening 82 formed therein, and within this openingis positioned a'map I 3 which, in the embodiment shown, is a map of'theUnite'd States. On the front.pan'el of the cabinet is mounted aswitch It which maybe a two-way switch. Beneath the opening I2 is asmall elongated opening or window [-5. The map may, for the purpose ofillustrating the invention; .be assumed to have at a point [6 thereon arepresentation of the'city of New Orleans and ata point IT arepresentation of NewYo'rkcity. I

Within the cabinet 'IE) is a rollenlS near the top. thereof whichvmay berotated by. means of a knob 53 which extends through the cabinet. 'Asecond roller is positioned behind the front panel near the bottom ofthe cabinet and is designated by the numeral 25. .This roller carries aknob 21 which extends through the end of the cabinet.

Carried, on the rollers 58 and 20 is an opaque curtain 22 which carriesa plurality or transparent or translucent areasi upon which the names ofcities areprinted or otherwise impressed by means of opaque letters, andcorresponding cut-outs or translucent areas which function to illuminatethe representation and/or location of the corresponding city on the map.Withthe curtain opaque and the transparent or translucent portionshaving the names of the cities printed thereon and correspondingtranslucent areas or cut-outs, the curtain is moved on supportingrollers beneath and preferably in contact with a superimposed map sothatillumination placed behind or below the curtain will show through said.transparent or translucent areas and corresponding areas, as willbeevident as the in opaque letters printed thereon. Spaced from therectangle 24, is a transparent or cut-out spot in the curtain 22. Forconvenience in orienting or indicating the relation of the spot with therectangle, they are joined by a line 26 drawn or otherwise impressed onthe curtain'22. A second rectangle 21 has impressed thereon the name NewYork, and spaced apart therefrom on the curtain 22, is a transparent orcut-out spot 28. The spot 28 and the rectangle 2! are joined by a line29. The switch M, which as stated above may be a two-way switch, isadapted, Whenin one position, to gcontrolthe supplying of current to theilluminating means in the cabinet ID, and when in another position tocontrol the supplying of energy to'the track upon which the vehiclemoves.

Referring now to Fig. 3, which is a circuit diagram of the system, aplug 30 is adapted to be connected to a source of current. From the plug30, a conductor 3| may lead to one end of the primary of a transformer32, and a branch conductor 33, connected to the conductor 3|, may leadto the lamp 23 which has been herein above described'as beingpositionedwithin the cabinet l0. From the lamp 23 a conductor 34 connects to apoint 35 of the switch 14. A station 35 has a lamp 31 positioned thereinfor illuminating the same and this lamp is connected in parallel withthe lamp 23 by means of conductors 38 and 39 connected to the conductors33 and 34 respectively.v

A railroad track generally designated by the numeral 43, has an outerrail 4|, an inner rail 42 and an intermediate or third rail 43. Thethird rail 43 has a section 43a which is isolated fromzthe third rail bymeans of insulating sections 44 and 45;

The other terminal of the primary of the transformer 32 is connected viaa conductor 46 to the other side ,ofthe source of current via the plug30. Included in the line 45 is a switch 4! by means of which current,supplied to the primary, may be controlled. A conductor 48 is connectedto the conductor 46, ahead of the switch 41, and leads to the point 49in the switch [4. The line 48 may be provided with a switch 50 forcontrolling the supplying of current to the switch point 49.

The secondary winding of the transformer has one terminal thereofconnected via a conductor 5| to the outside rail 4!, and for controllingthe speed of the vehicle, a suitable rheostat 52 may be connected inseries therewith. The other terminal of the secondary is connected via awire 53 to the third rail 43. A conductor 54 is connected from theconductor 43 to a point 55 in the switch l4. Apoint 55 in the switch [4is connected via a conductor 51 to the insulated section of the thirdrail 43a.

With the switches 41 and 50 closed and a train on the track 40, at reston the insulated section 43a, and with the arm l4a of the switch incontact with the points 49 and 35, the lamp 23, behind the curtain 22 inthe cabinet i0, is ilthe shaft of-a motor 65.

luminated. Since the lamp 3'! in the station 36 (which is positionedadjacent to the insulated section 43a of the track) is connected inparallel with the lamp 23, the station is also illuminated. With thecurtain 22 positioned so that the transparent spot 28 is underneath thepoint H, on the map l3, the name New York in the panel 21 appears in thewindow l5, see Fig. 1. This indicates that the train is standing at thestation in New York.

Now suppose the operator determines that the train shall be slated torun from New York to New Orleans, he throws the switch l4 and thiscauses the switch arm l4a to leave the points 49 and 35 and to connectthe points 55 and 53 together. When this occurs the lights 23 and 3? areextinguished and current is supplied to the insulated section 43a,thereby supplying current to the train and causing it to startoperating. Since the potential of the insulated section 43a and thepotential of the third rail are the same, the train will operate as longas the switch 14 is in the position connecting 55 and 56 together. Nowthe operator, by means of the knob i9, advances the curtain 22 until theword New Orleans appearing in the panel 24, is visible through thewindow [5 in front of the cabinet l0. He then throws the switch 14 toits original position (causing the arm 14a to disconnect 55 and 56 andto reconnect the points 35 and 49). This causes the light 23 within thecabinet, and the light 31 in the station, to be illuminated. The light23 via the hole or transparency 25, in the curtain 22', illuminates thespot [6 on the map l3, and indicates that the train is approaching NewOrleans. Thereafter, as soon as the train encounters the insulatedsection 43a, from which the current supplied was interrupted by themovement of the switch just described, it stops, and since thestation 36is adjacent thereto, the train stops in the station at New Orleans, asindicated on the map I3, on the front of the cabinet [5.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the curtain 22a is assumed to havetransparent spots such as 25, 2B, and panels such as 24, 27, bearing thenames of the'cities represented by the spots 25, .28, have been omittedfrom Fig. 4 for the sake of clarity. The curtain 22a passes over spacedarcuate rails 53 and 59, and passes be tween rollers 60 and 6|. Theroller 60 is supported on suitable bearings 62, 63 and carries a gear 64which meshes witha gear 65 carried on The motor shaft also carries acommutator 51 for controlling circuits which will presently be describedin connection with Fig. 5. The roller 6| is carried on suitablebearings, one of which is designated by the numeral 63, and thesebearings are slidably supported within the cabinet and are urged byspring means, one of which is shown at 69, in a direction to hold theroller 61 in contact with the curtain 22a, so as to cause it to bedriven by the roller 60, so that as long as the motor 66 is running itrotates the gear 65 through a gear reduction which is built into themotor. Due'to the fact that the gear '65 meshes with the gear 64 whichis fixed to the shaft carrying the roller Gllthe roller 60 iscontinuously and slowly rotated, and the frictional engagement of thisroller with the curtain under the urge of the spring means 69 causes thecurtain to be slowly moved along beneath the map which is superimposedon it in the same manner as the map [3 is superimposed on the curtain 22in Figures 1 and 2, The rails 58 and 59 conveniently support lamps I andH for supplying illuminatlon withinthe cabinet I0a. Thecabinet lflamaybe identical in shape with the cabinet I 9, shown in Fig. 1, and it mayinclude the same map arrangement as shown in Fig. 1, and also thewindowlike the window I through which the names of the cities may be seen.However, in the cabinet I0a there are no knobs like the'knobs I9 and 20,nor is there a switch I 4. This is due to the fact that the curtain ismoved by the motor 96 instead of manually, by the operator. So thearrangement shown in Fig. 4, in fact, constitutes an automatic versionof the manual arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2. V

Referring now to Fig. 5, which shows the circuits employed in thearrangement shown-in Fig. 4, a connector plug 12 is adapted to beplugged into a source of 'current. A conductor I3 leads from the plug E2to one terminal of the primary of a transformer l0, and a secondconductor I5 leads from the plug I2 to the other terminal of the primaryand includes a switch I0.

One terminal of the secondary of the'transformer is is connected via aconductor TI to the center or third rail '58 of the track 80. The otherterminal of the secondary is connected viaa conductor 8i and through arheostat 82 to one of the outer rails 79 of the track 80.

A branch line 89 leads from-the conductor I3 to the terminal 84 of themotor 99. A second conductor 85 leads from the conductor I5 to theterminal 85 of the motor 66. The field 8! of the motoris connected tothe mid points of a double pole, double throw reversing switch 88. Theterminals at one end of the reversing switch 89 are connected to theconductors 83 and 85, and the terminals at the other end of the switch88 are connected to the terminals on the first end by the usual crosswires so that when the switch blades are thrown to the left, as shown inFig. 5, the field 81 is connected in one relation to the armature oftheh motor I56 and will cause the armature to rotate in one direction,for example, in the direction indicated by the solid arrow. When theswitch blades are thrown to the right, as shown in Fig. 5, the field 81is connected in the opposite relation to the armature of the motor 66causing the latter to rotate inthe direction of the dotted arrow. Thecommutator 61 may consist of a rotor 89 carrying a metallic segment orinsert 99 and a second metallic segment or insert 9I, axially spacedapart from the segment 9%. The segment 90 has a portion 99a whichextends axially to the right as seen in Fig. 5, and likewise the insert9I has a projecting portion em extending in the same direction, althoughthese projections are angularly displaced from one another.

In g. 5 is shown the lamp It. So as not to crowd the sketch, the lamp IIis omitted but it will be understood that the lamp ll is connected inparallel with the lamp I0 so that when cur-- rent is supplied to one ofthem, they are both illuminated.

The third rail I8 has a section 58a which is isolated from the thirdrail by means of insulating sections 92 and 93. Along side the track 80,adjacent to the insulated section 19a, is a station 95 which may beilluminated by means of a lamp 9 5. The lamp 94 is connected in parallelwith the lamp I0. A branch conductor 96 is connected to the conductor 83and to one terminal of the lamp I0, and a conductor 9'! is connected tothe conductor 85 and to a brush 98 which is adapted to be contacted bythe extension 9Ia of the segment '9I, as the commutator, rotor '89rotates.

A brush 99 bears on the segment 9I and is connected by means of a jumperI00 to the other terminal or the lamp I0 so that when the switch I8 isclosed and the brushes 98 and 99 are connected together by the segment9| and its projection 9Ia, the lamps 70 and 94 (and also the lamp II itit is used) are illuminated.

A conductor IOI has one end connected to the conductor 'I'I (which isconnected to the third rail 18), and has its other end connected to abrush I02. A second brush I03 is connected via a conductor I04 to theinsulatedsection 18a of the third rail. As theh rotor 89 of thecommutator rotates, the insert 00 and its extension a connect thebrushes I02 and I09 together and supply current to the insulated section18a.

With the commutator rotor 89 in the position shown in Fig. 5, the lampsI0 and II behind the curtain 22a and also the lamp S4 in the station 95,are illuminated. Since the curtain 22a is synchronized with thecommutator 61, the name of a city appears in the window (correspondingto the window I5, as shown in Fig. 1). As soon as theextension 9| a ofthe segment 9! leaves the brush 98, the lamps behind the curtain 22a andalsothe lamp in the station 95, are extinguished. Following thisthe'brush I03 is contacted by the extension 90a of the segment 99 andthe train, which is standing at rest at the station, (due to the factthat it previously stopped when it encountered the insulated section18a) immediately starts up due to the fact that current is delivered tothe insulated section. Now as long as current is supplied to-theinsulated section by the extension 90a (and this extension may be madeas-long circumferentially-as desired), the train will continue to makelaps around the track 80. However, after the extension 90a leaves thebrush I03, the train will stop when it again encounters the insulatedsection 18a and immediately following this the extension 9 I a contactsthe brush 98 and the station and the representation of the next citytowhich the train is supposed to have traveled, are both illuminated.

Referring to Fig. 6, which shows a further modification, a connectorplug I05 is adapted to be plugged into a convenient source of currentand from this plug a conductor I06 may lead to one terminal of theprimary of a transformer IN. The other terminal of the primary isconnected via a conductor I08 to the plug I05, and includes a switchI09.

A track IIO includes outer rails II I, I I2, and a center or third railH3; The third rail II3 has a section II 3a which is isolated from thethird rail by means of insulating sections H4 and H5. The secondary ofthe transformer I01 has one terminal connected via a conductor IIG tothe third rail I I3, and its other terminal is connected via a conductorII'I to a rheostat H8, and this rheostat is, in turn, connected to oneof the outer rails via a conductor I I9.

A branch line I 20 is connected to the conductor I06 and to one terminalof each of the map lights 10a and 'IIa, and the station light 94a. Theother terminals of the lamps 79a, Ha and 94a. are connected via aconductor I2! to one contact arm I22 of a relay I29. The other contactarm I24 of this relay is connected via a conductor I25 to the conductorI08. A stepping relay I26 may be a solenoid having a plunger I 2'!operatively connected to an arm I28 which may be journaled on a shaftI29. A return spring 30 is connected to the plunger for causing it aents 7 to return to its normal position in contact with a stop pin I3I..'The arm I28 carries a pawl I32 which is pivoted .at I33 and is urgedtoward a ratchet wheel I34 by a spring I35. The ratchet wheel I34 iskeyed to the shaft I29 and as the solenoid plunger I21 is moved into thewinding the ratchet I34, engaged thereby, is caused to rotate in theembodiment shown, a quarter of a turn, or 90 degrees. The shaft I29carries a contact arm I33 which contacts a contact point I31 and as theshaft is advanced a quarter turn it leaves the contact point I31 andmakes contact with a contact point I38. As the shaft is advanced another90 degrees it leaves the contact point I38 and makes contact with acontact point I 33. When the shaft is advanced another 99 degrees thecontact arm leaves the contact point I39 and makes contact with acontact point I40. Thence, when the shaft is moved yet another 90degrees (making a total of 360 degrees), the contact arm leaves thecontact I40 and again establishes contact with the contact arm I31 etc.

The contact points I31, I39 and I40 are connected together and are inturn connected via a conductor I4I to the third rail I I3. One terminalof the winding of the relay I23, and also one terminal of the winding ofthe stepping relay I23, are connected via a conductor I42 to the thirdrail I I3. The other terminal of the Winding of the relay I23 isconnected via a conductor I43 to the contact point I38. The otherterminal of the winding of the relay I26 is connected via a conductorI44 to a switch arm I45. A cooperating switch arm I46 is connected via aconductor I43 to the outer rail III so that when the knob I41 on theswitch arm- I40 is pressed, current is supplied to the winding of thestepping relay I25. A contact arm I49 is connected to the conductor I48,and a contact arm I53 is connected via a conductor II to a switch I52and this switch is, in turn, connected to the conductor l44 via aconductor I53. The winding of the stepping relay I26 may be pivotallysupported at I54 to take care of the swing of the arm I28, when thisrelay is actuated. A brush I55 may be urged into contact with the end ofthe section I23a of the shaft I29 by means of a spring I55. This brushis connected via a conductor I51 to the insulated section II3a of thethird rail. The section I29a of the shaft is'insulated from the mainshaft I23 by means of an insulation I58.

With the contact arm I33 of the stepping switch in contact with thecontact point I33, and with the train at rest on the insulated sectionII3d of the track, the winding of the relay I23 is energized therebyattracting the arm I24 and causing it to contact the arm I22. Thissupplies current to the lamps a, Na, and the station lamp 94a.

Assuming that the operator has set his map to indicate the city in whichthe train is sitting, the operator depresses the knob I41 therebyclosing the contact arms I45 and I46, and energizing the winding of therelay I23. This causes the plunger I21 to advance to the right, as seenin Fig. 6, thereby stepping the contact arm I33 forward 90 degrees andcausing it to establish contact with the contact point I38, therebysupplying current to the insulated section II3a of the third rail. Thiscauses the train to operate and incidentally the train will continue tomake laps of the track until the insulated section I I3a is deprived ofcurrent. The depriving of the insulated section of current may beaccomplished either manually or automatically. When the operator wishesto accomplish this manually, he may depress the handle or button I41. Ifhe does this once, the contact arm I33 will advance to the contact I40and the insulated section 3a will continue to receive current. The samewill occur if he depresses the button I41, again, because the contactarm I36 will then advance to the position I31 (the position shown in thecircuit, Fig. 6). However, the next time he depresses the button I41 thecontact arm advances to the position I38 thereby depriving the insulatedsection II3a, of current, and this will cause the train to stop when itsubsequently encounters the insulated section II3a. Due to the advancingof the arm I36 to the position I38, the relay I23 is energized and thelamps 10a, 1Ia, and 94a are illuminated.

From the above description it will be seen that the operator canmanually control the energize.- tion of the insulated section I I300,and may allow the train to make as many, or as few, laps as he desiresbecause if he wants it to make a few laps he may quickly push the buttonI41 several times.

Now, if it is desired to automatically control the device the switch I52may be closed. The contact arm I50 is so arranged that as the trainpasses it, it is momentarily swung into contact with the arm I49 therebyenergizing the winding of the stepping relay I26. Since the contact armI35 traverses three contact points connected to the insulated sectionII3a, the train will stop on the insulated section after it has madethree laps, and all of this is automatic. And, the fourth time the trainencounters the insulated section it will stop and the map lights and thestation light are illuminated.

If the operator wishes to reduce the number of laps on automaticoperation he has the option to overridingly control the automaticoperation because each time he depresses the button I41, the number oflaps is reduced by one.

Although I have herein shown and described an embodiment and severalmodifications thereof, it is obvious that many other changes may bemade, in the arrangements herein shown and described, by those skilledin the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as definedin the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for controlling the operation of miniature vehicles, ametallic track having outer rails and having a main third rail portionand a second third rail portion insulated from said main portion, astation adjacent to said insulated portion and having a light thereinconnected in a, circuit with a source of current, means for constantlysupplying current from said source to said track with the exception ofsaid insulated portion, a visual indicator supported remotely from saidtrack and having a light therein connected in multiple with said firstlight, said indicator including a stationary map and a movable opaquecurtain supported beneath said map and having transparent areas thereinsome of which register with the positions of given cities on the map,dual switching means including one set in said first circuit and asecond set in a circuit between said source and said second third railportion, said switching means being adapted first to extinguish saidlights and to supply current to said insulated portion and adaptedsecondly to deprive said insulated portion of current and to supplycurrent to said lights, and motor means for moving said curtain and forcausingsaid switching means to performv said switching operationssequentially with predetermined time delays between said operations.

2. .In a device for controlling the operation of miniature .vehicles, atrack: having outer rails and a third rail a portion" of which isinsulated from; the main portion'th'ereof, a station adjacent to saidinsulated portion and havi-ng a. light therein connected in a circuitwith a source of current, a. visual indicator supported in a casingremote from said track: and" having a light therein connectedin multiplewith said first light, said indicatorrincludingl a'stationary map, andamovable opaque curtain beneath said: map moved in timed relation withthe:movement .of the vehicle along the track andhavinglight-transmittingareas therein some of which register with the position of given citiesonthe mapand others of whi'cl'i register with anop'ening in the casing of.said indicator and bear the printed I name ofthe city] with which thefirst-mentioned. area registers, circuit meansfor constantly supplyingcurrent from said source to said track and to said third rail with theexception of said insulated portion, rotary switching meansliavingcircuits between :said source and s'aidligh-t and'circuits between saidsource and said insulated portion connected thereto for normallysupplying current to said light, and motor means for moving said curtainand for driving said rotaryswitch ing means and thereby causing saidswitching meanstc first extinguish said lights and supply current tosaid-insulated portion and forsecondly depriving said insulated portionof current and again supplying current" to sai'd light, said motor meansbeing adapted to perform said operations sequentially and with.predetermined time delays between said operations.

3. In a device iorflcontrolling the operation of miniature vehicles, a-.track having outer rails and a third rail a portion of' which isinsulated irom the main portion thereof, at: station ad"- jacent to saidinsulated portion. and having a light therein, a visual indicatorcarried. in. a cas ing spaced apart from said station and said track andalso having a light-therein connected inmultiple with the light in saidstation and adapted to be illuminated intin'ievvith the il lumination ofthe light in said station, said in P dicator including a stationary mapand a n'ioif able opaoue curtain beneath said niap moved in time :withthe movementof the: vehicle along thetrack and having transparent areastherein some of which register with' the position of any" one of anumber of citieslo'n the inap and others of which register with anopening inthecasing of said indicator and bear the printed name of thecity with which the first-mentioned areas register, means for constantlysupplying current to said track andzt'osaid' third fail with theexception of said insulated portion, switch ing means having circuitsbetwe'en a source of currentand said lights connected thereto fornormally supplying, current to. said 1ights,i other switching meanshaving circuits connected thereto for supplying current: to: said;insulated: portion ofthe third raiLQandmotor-driven means operativelyconnected to sai'd'curltain for moving-the samegand cooperatingwith saidcontact means for causing said contact means to first extinguish saidlights and supply current to said insulated portion and for: secondly;depriv ing said insulated portiomof; current mirage-1n:

10 sup lying. current to; sa di h s; said mete iven me n-shei sa apt d operformsaid 0P- ra ions. sequ tia ly a d ith edetermine m d la s w en derat on 4.- Ina device for controlling. the operation of miniaturevehicles, a track-having a third rail,- a comparatively short portionof: which is insulated from the main portion of the; third rail,atsta-tion adjacent ,to said insulated portion and including a source ofi-llumi-natiomsaid insulated portion being adapted when deprived ofcurrent to cause said vehicle to stop atsaid station, a n otordrivencommutator switching device having circuits connected thereto; andto said track, said third rail, the insulated portion of said third railand to said source oi illumi i e f p l i urrento, sai t r v and saidthird rail with t e e ee tion'ef sa d ins-1. laced B ha fo u equent deriving sa source of illi-imination of-current-and supplying current :05su ated port on; a d t ere after f d p sgsa d. nsu ateda ertionofcurrent and supplying current to said source of illumi-nation,-v and. anilluminated visual indi cetor also a edb aid motor o in ma in thesupposed location of the vehicle; at thetimeit stops and for advancing,as the-vehicle gain starts operating; to a pointjind-icating thei dese;

tination of said vehicle as it again, stops. v

5. In a device for controlling the operationof miniature vehicles, atrack having a third. rail at por tion o f: whichgis insulated iro n themain portion. thereof, a station adjacent to. said insulated portion andhaving a light therein,

: a visual indicator spacedapart from said station and said track-s'aidindicatorheingcomprised of acasinghaving an upper wall with apanel. formed therein and containing a chartor map, an opaque curtainmovably supported in said casing beneath saidchart and havinglight-transmitting areas correlated with predetermined points onsaidchart,- said visual [indi cator also having alight thereinbelow-said-cure nd nn cte to be illuminated in ti e wit to said track and tosaid/third rail-w; h e exception or said insulated portion, contactmeans having i s z oime t nthe e fem ni t- 1 v depriving said -l i htcinema: d; s in current to said su e e minedtime delays' between saidoperations;

6= t n: a v e; i 2 s nar-91 m 'it evore a i n of miniature vehicles atrack having azthirdrail. a porticnot which is insulated from the mainportion thereof, a station adjacent to. said insulated portion andhaving; a light: thereim-avisualv indicator spacet rapart from'jsaid'staticn' and said. track and comprised eta cabinet: hav= ing an-;upper:w a11=- with a' paner formedrthereiir. and containin a chart ormap; and having narrow; elongated.- windotv therebgeneathg-x an opaquecurtain movablysupported: in said :cab inet: beneath said t and havinglight-trans; mitting areas there correlatedwith: predetere mined pointson :said, chart; and-having; desig-- nations ofsaid point-s printed'lin:others-lights" transmitting areas thereon andaadapteditb lsh'ew' in saidwindow when the correspondingarlighte transmitting area: :in;saidcurtain: is correlatedmult p e;withiandadant d; t the ieh i asaidstation, means for; constantly -supply-ing current pertiq r nd ior:SEC-1 with the position of its'point on said chart, roller meansengaging said opaque curtain, said indicator also having alight thereinconnected in multiple with and adapted to be illuminated in time withthe light in said station, means for constantly supplying current tosaid track and to said third rail with the exception of said insulatedportion, movable contact means having circuits connected thereto fornormally supplying current to said light, and motor means operativelyconnected to said roller means'ior moving said curtain and alsooperatively' con nected to actuating means for said contact means forcausing the latter tofirst extinguish said light and supply current tosaid insulated portion and for secondly depriving said insulated portionof current and again'supplying current to said light, the contacts insaid contact means being arranged to perform-said operationssequentially and with predetermined time delays between said operations.

l'lJIn a device for controlling the operation of miniature vehicles, atrack having a third rail a portion of which is insulated from the mainportion thereof, a station adjacent to said insulatedportion and havinga, light therein, a visual indicator spac'ed apart from said sta tionand said track, said indicator being comprised of a casing having anupper wall with a panel formed therein and containing a chart or map, anopaque curtain movably supported in said cabinet beneath said chart andhavin light-transmittable areas correlated to and adapted to coincidewith predetermined points on said chart, said casing also having 9,light therein connected in multiple with and adapted to be illuminatedin time with the illumination of the light in said station, means forconstantly supplying current to said track and to said third rail withthe exception of said insulated portion, movable contact means havingcircuits'connected thereto for normally depriving said lightsof currentand supplying current to said insulated portion and for secondlydepriving said insulated portion of current and again supplyingcurrentto said lights, andrmotor-driven means connected to said curtainfor moving the sameand' also connected to said movable contact means,said last mentioned means having its contacts arranged to effect saidoperations sequentially and with predetermined time delays between saidoperations.

8. In a device for controlling the operation of miniature vehicles, atrack having a third rail a portion of which isinsulated from the mainportion thereof, a station adjacent to said in-' sulated portion andhaving a light therein, a visual indicator spaced apart from saidstation and said track, said indicator being comprised of a casinghaving at least one-wall thereof with a panel formed therein andcontaining a chart or map, an opaque curtain movably supported in saidcabinet adjacent to said chart and having light-transmittable areascorrelated with predetermined points on said'chart and adapted toilluminate said predetermined points, magnetomotive means for movingsaid curtain on its support, means for constantly supplying current tosaid track and to said third rail with the exception of said insulatedportion, movable contact means controlled by said magnetomotive meansand having circuits connected thereto for normally depriving said lightof current, and supplying current to said insulated portion, and forsecondly depriving said insulated portion of current and again supplyingcurrent to said light, said movable contact means having its contactsarranged to effect said operations sequentially and with predeterminedtime delays between saidoperations.

9. In a, device for controlling the operation of miniature vehicles; a'track having a third rail a portion of which is insulated from the mainportion thereof, a station adjacent to said insulated portion and havinga light therein, a visual indicator spaced apart from said station andsaidtrack and comprised of a casing having an upper wall with'a panelformed therein and containing a chart or map and having a narrowelongated window therebeneath, an Opaque; curtain movably supported insaid cabinet beneath said chart and having light-transmittable areastherein correlate'd'with predetermined points onsaid chart and havingdesignations of said points printed in translucent areas thereon andadapted to show in said windowwhen the correspondingv one of said areasin said curtain is, correlated with" the position of its point on saidchart, roller means engaging said opaque curtain, said indicator alsohaving a light therein connected in multiple with the light in saidstation and adapted to be'illuminated in time with the illumination ofthe light in said station, means for'constantly supplying current tosaid track and to said third rail with the exception of said insulatedportion, movable fcontact means having circuits connected theretofornormally supplying current to said lights, and motor means operativelyconnected to said roller means'for moving said curtain and operativelyconnected to' said movable contact means for causing the latter to firstextinguish said light and supply current to said insulated portion andfor secondlydepriving said insulated portion -of current and againsupplying current 'to said light, the contacts of said contact meansbeing arranged to efiect said operationssequentially and withpredetermined time delays between said operations.

l0. In a device 'forcontrolling the operation of miniature. vehicle's,cabinet having a panel formed therein to contain a charter map, anendless opaque: curtain movably supported in said cabinet beneath "saidchart and having transparent areas therein correlated with startingpoints and/ordestinations on said chart,

I roller means formoving'saidcurtain, an electricmotor operativelyconnected to said roller means, an electrical circuit between said motorand a source of current, "said circuit" including switching means forcontrollingsaid motor, a source of illuminationiin said cabinet adaptedto illuminate areas on saidmap' defined by said transparent areas, abelt track for said vehicle including a third railihaving' an insulatedsection therein, circuit connections between said source of current andsaid belt trackfincluding one conductor connected to at least one mainrail thereof and another conductor connected to the third railwith theexception of said insulated section, switching means controlled by saidmotor includingpne' switching set connectedxin. a circuitiwith saidsource of current and the; source of illumination in said cabinet andanother set connected 'in a second circuit with said source andthe'insulated section of the third rail, said sets being so arrangedrelative 'to one another that when one circuit is completed by itsswitching'set the other one is interrupted by its switching's'et.

11. In a control device of the character described, a casing having apanel formedin one surface thereof to contain a chart or map, an opaquecurtain movably supported in said casing beneath said chart and havingtranspar ent areas therein correlated with predetermined points on saidchart, motor means for moving said curtain, switching means in saidcasing comprised of a plurality of sections, said switching means alsobeing controlled by said motor means, connections between one of saidsections, a source of current and a first external circuit, andconnections between the second of said sections, a source of current andasecond external circuit, whereby said external circuits are enabled anddisabled sequentially by said motor means.

12. In a control device of the character described, a casing having apanel formed in one surface thereof to contain a chart or map, an opaquecurtain movably supported in said casing beneath said chart and havingtransparent areas therein correlated with a series of predeterminedpoints on said chart, motor means for moving said curtain, connectionsbetween said motor means and a source of current, said connectionsincluding a switch mounted on said casing, other switching means withinsaid casing comprised of a plurality of sections, actuating means forsaid switches also controlled by said motor means, connections betweenone of said sections, a source of current and a first external circuit,and connections between the second of said sections, a source of currentand a second external circuit, whereby said external circuits areenabled and disabled sequentially by said motor means.

13. A control device according to claim '12 in which a source ofillumination within the casing is connected in parallel with at leastone of said sections.

14. In a control device of the character described, a casing having apanel formed in one surface thereof to contain a chart or map, an opaquecurtain movably supported in said casing beneath said chart and havingtransparent areas therein correlated with predetermined points on saidchart, said curtain also having a series of other transparent areastherein can rying opaque characters, a frame or opening in said devicewith which said last-mentioned REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 156,868 Baade Nov. 17, 1874476,468 Leek June 7, 1892 1,364,303 Peplinski et a1. Jan. 4, 19211,388,915 Behnke Oct. 30, 1921 1,530,315 Grabenstein Mar. 17, 19251,570,178 Prevost Jan. 19, 1926 1,647,172 Caruso Nov. 1, 1927 1,675,165Custer June 26, 1928 1,710,326 Swartwout Apr. 23, 1929 1,865,276Rosenthal June 28, 1932 1,929,759 Swett Oct. 10, 1933 1,941,777 AmosJan. 2, 1934 2,058,523 Stearns Oct. 27, 1936 2,148,828 Myers Feb. 28,1939 2,166,194 Roman et al. July 18, 1939 2,227,411 Jones Dec. 31, 19402,247,418 Smith July 1, 1941 2,265,598 Firestone Dec. 9, 1941 2,386,956Klamp et al. Oct. 16, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 601,043France of 1926 790,303 France of 1935 464,804 Great Britain of 1937

